Page 118 of Merciless Heir
“That’s tomorrow.”
“Oh look, she knows.” He brushes my cheek with one thumb. The anger and annoyance is dark fire in his eyes and at odds with the loving touch.
I swat his hand away and step away. He follows. “Happy birthday. Now I’ve fed your pathetic ego, leave.”
“I would if I could. But you…” He points at me. “You. You won’t leave me the fuck alone.”
“Me?” I laugh. “I haven’t done a thing. I haven’t contacted you at all. Some might say I’ve actually left you the fuck alone.”
“Yeah. Exactly. It’s annoying.” He leans in close and drops his voice. “And you’re still gorgeous when you’ve been crying.”
“Do you even know how misogynistic that is? Why don’t you just tell me I’d be pretty if I smiled and get it over and done with. Maybe give me an apron.”
“And have you strangle me with it? No.”
We glare at each other. It’s like something savage needs to come out. And I feel suddenly, gloriously alive. “A girl can dream.”
“You know, Sadie, I got the tiara.”
“You’re welcome.”
He shoves a hand through his hair. “I was on my way to get the fucking thing evaluated, but I find myself here, instead. I even had a buyer.”
He says this like it’s an accusation.
“So?” I give him a shove. Which is a mistake because he’s hard and warm and now I want to touch him more. “I don’t work for you anymore.”
“Is jumping my bones working for me?”
“Fuck you.”
“Invitation?”
“No.” Yes. But I keep that to myself, because I don’t want just sex with this man. I hate him, I love him, I want it all. Forever.
And I don’t know why he’s here.
“I found a buyer and I came here instead.”
“Do you want a medal?”
He exhales noisily. “You’re such a pain in my ass. I don’t know why the fuck my mother thought I had to choose between never knowing the value and you, and knowing the value and selling it and no you.”
My head starts to spin. His mother did what? Because I don’t think the tiara is a Minchini. It might be worthless, it might be priceless, but if he doesn’t then this is about the other worth, the intangible and— “Me?”
“You.”
“You’re smarter than that.”
He laughs bitterly, “Not where you’re concerned.”
“I can’t help it if you make stupid decisions.”
“No, you’re just the fucking cause, Sadie. And it’s only been three days. Three days where I’ve talked myself into all sorts of knots. I’ve told myself I don’t care. I’ve told myself I’m better off without you. I’ve told myself you meant what you said.”
“And what about you?” My heart’s beating fast and something inside starts to glow. “I thought you didn’t want me.”
“I think I showed I wanted you.”